What it's about:Sopranos vet Michael Imperioli plays Louis Finch, a star homicide detective in Detroit's worst crime area with a reputation as an eccentric. Tight-lipped Finch keeps to himself, but when he's paired up with a chatty rookie partner (Jon Michael Hill), he's forced to show the kid the ropes.

Where it works: Whereas most procedural dramas get weighed down by heavy subject matter, Detroit 1-8-7 includes offbeat comedic moments thanks to Finch's strange methods for doing business (case in point: he talks to his partner over the phone, even when the guy is in the same room). It's also refreshing to have a crime show take place in a locale that's not New York or LA.

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Where it doesn't: The series was originally shot mockumentary style, but producers later decided to ditch the format. The problem is that the pilot still includes a few character looks to camera and shaky shots that just don't jive with the rest of the show. The '70s music also gives it a slightly campy feel, and the titles are a bit cutesy. Basically, you have conflicting elements that don't mesh.

Am I hooked? I do appreciate some of the humor, but the show needs finessing.